How to- Chocolate Stoup Cupcakes

So... Still working on Alaska pictures.. but I have a recipe that will satiate you till they come! How about Chocolate Stout Cupcakes? I was asked by the Handsome Gentleman Friend to make these cupcakes for this work. So yesterday I spent most of the day in the kitchen. I really love baking. especially when it involves cupcakes and mini cupcakes.

So this is the recipe that was sent to me... It was SUPPOSED to be for 2 dozen.. turns out its for 4 dozen... so i made 2 dozen regular cupcakes and 4 dozen minis, because who doesn't love mini muffin tins? Also watch out for Joannes Coupons because they have the CUUUUUTEST cupcake liners, and you can get 75-100 for $1.90 out the door.

Chocolate Stout Cake

Cake

• 2 cups stout (such as Guinness, I used out Choconut Stout homebrew)
• 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

• 4 cups all purpose flour

• 4 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/3 cups sour cream

Icing

• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Preparation

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. For Cupcakes prep tins with liners

Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.

For full sized cupcakes bake 18-20 minutes and mini cupcakes bake 9-12

For icing:
Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.

Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake.

I didn't wait for it to cool completely, and ended up dipping the tops of the cakes in it. they came out looking REALLY nice, but i have a ton of frosting left

Merry Christmas!

As I write this it is Christmas Eve here, but Christmas day other places. Happy all other holidays as well to those who dont celebrate this holiday, and to those who are anti holidays, hope its just a good day.

Today I had to work (why? people have to get presents 12 hours before the day) and before work i was going over some of my life choices. Im pretty happy with the physical ones, but I need to get my fiscal life together quickly, and maybe my mental health. Im good with money in the short term but long term I loose it, and its a shame. This bothers me quite a bit... which makes me sad and start feeling old bad feelings. I guess this means as good as I have been doing for the past year or so, I still have demons to conquer... we all do i guess. BTW got another ticket even though I had all he paperwork from the DMV. The officer (fiscal rapist) decided to not accept the paperwork. Well, Ill be fighting THAT one...

I didn have my shit together and so now am at my aunties house alone, their all out looking at lights. sad I missed it, but my fault. But they will be home soon and we will be together. BTW I had a beer while waiting for them, something outside my usual activities, is this why Im so cathartic? Bleh....

Ok, more happy time!! Mommy is here!! :D Yesterday for Christmas my aunties took mom and I to the Great Dickens Faire for our Christmas gift. it was so awesome!! So Dickens Faire is a Festival where they dress the Cow Palace (A real place in san francisco) up like the victorian streets of london and everyone dresses and talks like dickens characters! they act out parts of the novels at random times, lots of stage shows around, and amazing vendors. My favorite soup bowls are from there (I get one every year, soon Ill have a set! lol) We ate Bangers and Mash, listened to a hammered dolcemer, watched a family friendly "burleque" show, shopped, ate spiced nuts, and generally had a great time. Ill post pictures ASAP, but I forgot my cord for my phone...

You can see some shots on Instagram (shameless plus) at UntidyVenus

I have been making gifts like a fiend, trying new recipes, and even made a dump cake and a pie. Oh, and make these, their EASY PEASY and fun!! And soooooo good!!!

Homemade Peppermint Candies

Ingredients

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 5 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tablespoon peppermint extract
• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons shortening

Instructions

1. Add condensed milk, 2 cups of powdered sugar, and peppermint extract to a large mixing bowl. Mix everything on medium speed using the paddle attachment until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Add more powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough is stiff but still pliable.
2. Roll 3/4″ balls of dough between the palms of the hands.
3. Press each ball down slowly and set the flattened disk on a flat cutting board or plate. Transfer peppermint disks to the freezer for no longer than 30 minutes. While the dough is chilling, temper the chocolate coating.
4. Place chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. Melt the chocolate in 30 second increments, making sure to stir after each time until chocolate is smooth. Stir in shortening to thin the chocolate. Remove patties from the freezer.
5. Place a patty on the tines of the fork and dip in the chocolate until completely covered. Allow excess chocolate to drip off the patty before setting each one on top of wax or parchment paper.
6. Allow the chocolate coated peppermint patties to completely set up. This can be done quicker by placing the patties in the refrigerator. The peppermint patties are ready when they are dry to the touch. Enjoy!